'Every day a child is born to suffer,' group laments as new citizenship rules delayed
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The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality is urging the Malaysian government to enforce a constitutional amendment that grants women equal rights to pass citizenship to their children. Despite being passed in 2024, administrative delays continue to leave families in legal limbo.
Why it matters
The delay directly impacts the fundamental rights of children and gender equality, creating significant hardship for families with non-citizen spouses.
News ✕ 'Every day a child is born to suffer,' group laments as new citizenship rules delayed Published: Oct 13, 2026 10:12 AM Almost two years after it was passed in the Dewan Rakyat, a constitutional amendment - which, among others, grants women equal rights to pass down citizenship - has yet to be enforced.
The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) said that while Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has made significant progress in processing citizenship applications, the delays in enforcing the amendments leave many families in limbo.
Almost two years after it was passed in the Dewan Rakyat, a constitutional amendment - which, among others, grants women equal rights to pass down citizenship - has yet to be enforced.
"With every passing day, another child is born to suffer the discriminatory effects of this unenforced law.
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